On my way back after my ten weeks in India, I’m stopping off in Bangkok for some chill time. I’m pretty much planning to spend my whole time by the hotel pool downing frozen cocktails; but I thought I’d do one cultural excursion- the Tiger Temple!
I decided to go with the package where you get to go early in the morning and have breakfast with the monks, play with precious little baby tigers, get a full tour, and then go have photos with the big ones in the sun.
However, when I tried to book it, my travel agent flat out refused- apparently all her contacts in Thailand refuse to make bookings for the Tiger Temple because of the animal abuse that goes on there.
I did some research online, and there seem be diametrically opposed views about the tiger temple- half the people insist the tigers are just sleepy during the daytime because they're nocturnal (So there's no drugging) and if they weren't at the temple they'd be had by poachers; while the other half insist the tigers are beaten, abused, bought from illegal tiger farms, housed in tiny concrete cells and that the whole temple is just a revenue gathering evidence. Unfortunately, the naysayers have youtube videos, National Geographic articles and reports from international animal welfare organizations backing up their claims; where as the proponents just seem to have cool photos of them with dopey looking tigers heads on their laps.
It just seems way too good to be true that there’s a place where 400 pound Tigers will cheerfully consent to me hugging them and telling them they’re ‘the best kitty’; so I think no matter how badly I want to believe it, I’ll just have to wait till I come home to my actual kitties.
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| Like Coco. She's just as good as a tiger. |
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